Automatic tension mechanism for strands, etc.



April 13, 1933- J. vAcHER AUTOMATIC TENSION MECHANISM FOR STRANDS ETC Filed Aug. 4, 1931 Patented Apr. 18, 1933 n am STATE/S EPA-TENT JOHN VACHER, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR 'IOl THE AMERICAN MILL Y l COMPANY, `OE" VIATEBBURY, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION u i AUTOMATIC 'Tension ian'cnanrsm For.. sTRANns, Ear-0.,'.l

, Applicatienvled August 4, 1931. Serial YNo. 555,024.

rlhis invention relates to an improvement in automatic tension mechanisms forstrands,` etc., that is to say, vmechanisms for automatically maintaining strands or sheet-material under a substantially-uniform tensionA as the same is being reeled, unreeled, or otherwisehandled.

My invention, while useful in handling a wide variety of sheet and strand material, responds to a particular need in connection with the handling of elastic strands and its utility in that connection will be largely featuredl herein for the purpose of demonstrating its advantages. Y

In` the manufacture of covered elastic strands for use in elastic fabrics and webbing, it is theVV practice toV concurrently wind a large numberrof such strands upon a reel as the same come from a covering machine, andto subsequently draw the covered strands offthe reel for incorporation into fabrics orwebbing as the same is being woven. In

order to insureuniform covering'o'f elastic strands as the same are passed through a covering Vmachine and to insure their proper weaving, aswell as for other reasons, vit is important'that such strands be wound upon reels under as nearly uniform .tension as possible.

Heretofor'e'one of the main reasons 'for' the dilferentialtension of material wound upon power-driven reels resided in the'fact that a substantially-empty reel draws off or takes on lessjmaterial per revolution than la full or nearly-fullreel, owing to the relativelygreater diameter of the latter. l n

The 'main object of my inventionvisr to provide a power-driven or controlled mechanism which will automatically maintain .a substantially-uniform tension upon the material being wound thereon,` drawn there' from or passed thereover, and while particuetc., of rubber or other elastic strands,"my improved reel-meclian1sm is also admirably Y suitedkfor other uses, such as reeling or delivery of cotton, silk, wire other rela,-Y

Fig.` 5 isya'per'spective larly useful iniconnection with the reeling,v

vention Y consists inV an automatic tension; mechanism-characterized byafreel or drum and a power-driven controlmechanism therefcr of such character. `as to automatically' change the rotary speed of the said. reel or drum inresponse toa changeI of tension upon the material being wound upon, unwound from or passingv over thesaid` drum or reel.

My invention further consists in*l a' pow'er-l l,

driven reel-mechanism characterized as above and having certain 'other features of con".- struction and combinations of parts as "will be hereinafterv described and particularlyre-- cited in the claims. p'

In the accompanying drawing.:

Fig'. llis a schematic view in front eleva-j tionr of oneV form which an automaticten'sion device embodying my invention may assume; Fig. 2 is anedgefview.thereof;j Y

Fig. 3 is avviewcorrespondingfte Figi 2 but showing the reel bodilymoved forward as the result of increased' tensionupon theA strand being wound to'proportionatelyy` de-A crease itsR.,P.M..;

YFig. il' is a. brokenYV detail lr:sectional view taken on the 'line ,Ll-f4; of Fig. 1'but on fa.' lar, ;erscale;ffV "Y view of the drum vor' reelshown'partly in sectionand illustrating K its use as a capstan to maintain tensionfon a strand passing thereover; and

, Fig. 6 is' a 'broken edge view showing the parts lof the device larranged'for feeding or delivering strands.4 "n The particularembodimentof my inven tion herein chosen for illustrationconsists as shown of a relative-long-andenarrowbase 10 provided atV each of its respective opposite endsv withV upstanding bearing-lugs 11 rand'12 respectively provided with aligned horizontal bearingopenings 13 and '14.l 'The Lbase 10 may be rested upon any suitablesupi` porty and has'extending vinto 'itsjrespective bearing-openings 13 and 14 horizontaltrunnion-rods 15 and 16 extending outward' from the respective opposite sides of a pivotal: U-shaped 'reel-carryingl frame 17 comprising a horizontal reach 18 and complementary up'- 1 standing arms 19 and 20..4 Y

'The respective upper ends yof the( arms 19 ico and 20 just above referred to are formed with cylindrical bosses 21 and 22 respectively provided with aligned passages 23 and 24 and between which is located a reel or drum 25 comprising a cylindrical body-portion 26 and a pair of complementary side-flanges 27 and 28, though the latter are not essential.

The reel 25 above described is provided with an axial bore 29 into the left-hand end of which (as viewed in Fig. l) extends the inner end of a supporting-rod 30 mounted in the passage 23 in the boss 21 of the U-shaped reel-carrying frame 17' and adjustably held therein by a wing-head clamping-screw 31.

Extending into the complementary righthand end of the axial bore 29 of the reel 25 is. the inner end of a control-shaft 32 mounted for rotation inthe passage 24 in the upper end ofy the arm 20 and having secured to its outer end a friction-disk 33.

For the purpose of releasably coupling the reel 25 to the control-shaft 32 I provide the latter with a collar 34 adjustably secured to the same by a set-screw 35 and provided with a horizontally-offset coupling-pin 36 extending into an appropriately-positioned socket 37 formed in the adjacent face of the said reel 25..

Extending rearward from the right-hand end of the base l0 is an integral horizontal arm 38 provided` with an upstanding bracket 39 terminating at its upper end in a boss 40 having a horizontal bearing-passage 41 substantially-aligned with the passage 24 in the arm 20 but extending at a right angle there` to. Rotat-ably mounted in the bearing-passage 41 of the bracket 39 is a primary control-shaft 42 which may be driven from any convenient source of power (not shown) and n which is provided at its forward end with a friction-roller 43 bearing against the outer face ofthe friction-disk 33 for the purpose of rotating the same and the reel 25, or of controlling the speed of rotation thereof, as will hereinafter appear.

The base l0 is also provided witha pair of forwardly-extending lugs 44 and 45 respectively aligned with a corresponding pair ofA forwardlyeprojecting lugs 46 and 47 off-` setting from the base-reach 18 ofthe pivotal reel-carrying frame 17. Each of the lugs 44 and 45 is formed with an upwardly-opening recess 48 positioned directly below a downwardly-opening recess 49, one of which is formed in each of the said lugs 46 and 47A Each of the lugs 46 and 47 has axially threaded. into it a wing-head spring-adjusting screw 50 extending into its` complementary recess 49 and carrying at its lower end a. washer 5l against whichbears the upper engd of a helical spring 52 seated at its lower end the recess 48 of the lugs 44 or 45, as the case may be.. y

From the foregoing it will be seen that the springs 52 exert a constant. effort to swing the reel-carrying frame, together with the reel 25 and friction-disk 33 carried thereby, rearwardly toward the friction-roller 43. The tendency of the reel 25 and friction-disk 33 to move rearward as just described is resisted by one or more strands 53 which may be wrapped around the body-portion V226 of the said reel and upon which it is desired to maintain a substantially-uniform tension.

Let itv be presumed that the strand (or strands) 53 is being wound upon the reel 25, rather than being unwound therefrom, or merely passed thereover, as will hereinafter appear. K

Having set the springs 52 to the desired tension, if for any reason the tension ofthe strand 53 is relaxed, the reel-carrying frame 17 will automatically'swing rearwardly under the urge of the saidrsprings 52, with the effect of positioning the center of the friction-disk 33 closer to the center of the friction-roller 43, with the effect of automatically Y If, on the other hand, the tension uponfthe` strand 53 should for any reason,l such as the piling up of the convolutions thereof, increase beyond a predetermined point, the' reel-carrying frame 17, together with the reel 25 and friction-disk 33, will be pulled forwardly away from the friction-roller 43, thus causing the latter to exert its drivingforcenearer the periphery of the said disk and hence drive the same at a correspondingly slower rate of speed.V

The description of the operation of. my improved mechanism makesv clear itsr operation when strand or sheet-material is being wound up upon the reel 25, but the operation. of the mechanism. illustrated would be the same were the material being drawn off from. the

. said reel with the exception that in this. illstance, the roller 43 and the disk 33 would not function,v strictly speaking, asv adrive but terial being unreeled.. The term` speed-y changing mechanism, as used herein, properly describes the so-called friction-roller7 43 and friction-disk 33, or equivalent mechanism, where the same are functioning actively to drive the reel or permissively toy restrain the latter when material is being drawn therefrom. Y

When the mechanism is being used as a feed for delivering the material, rather than winding the same up, the rollerr43 wouldl be reversed inposition with respect to the tension of the spring 52, as indicated in. Fig. 6. Vvith the arrangement ust referred to, as the tension upon the strand 53 is relaxed, the speed cf the reel`25 will be decreased to a corresponding degree by `the action of the spring 52. Y

My improved automatic vtension-mechanism is also useful when thek reel or drum 25,

' or e uivalent member yis merel usedfas a tioning, but if the mechanism be placedherizontally, the weight ofthe reel and associated parts will serve tomalte the springs or equivalent parts unnecessary. This may be seen by turning the accompanying drawing v to the right, so that thel now vertical axis of the device lies in a horizontal plane. It will thus be seen that the weight of the reel and associated parts will normally tend to move the center. of the friction-disk 33A toward the friction-roller 43, which movement will be resisted by the strand 53. However, the employment of one or more springs or equivalent yielding-means, is desirable for the reason that the same may be readily adjusted.

VIt will thus be seen that whenever, for any reason, the tension upon the strand 53 decream or increases beyond a predeterminedV limit, the' friction-disk 33 will be automatically mbved with respect to the friction-roller fl-ie'efl'eet an increase in the speed of .the

reel Vor a decrease'in Vthe speed thereof, as may be required to restore the desired and predetermined tension Vupon the said strand.

My invention contemplates broadly,auto` matically effecting `a. change in the speedfunction of a control-mechanism to regulate the speed of the reel or equivalent element, in direct response to a change in tension upon the material being handled.

It will be understood, therefore, by those skilled in the art that my linvention may assume varied physical forms without departing from my inventive concept and I, therefore, do not limit myself to the specific embodiment herein chosen for illustration, but only'as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination? with a revoluble reel mounted forbodil f movement' of a air of com lementary interengaging rotary friction-members, one of which is adapted for connection to a source of power for being driven at a substantially constant speedand.U the other of which is operatively associated with the said reel and bodily movable therewith relatively with respeetto its complementary frietion-member to eifect a speed-changing relationship between the two said members inl direct response to a change 1n the tension of the material being handled by the said, reel;

. the said parts being organized and vrelated with respect to each other in such manner as to move the said reel and simultaneously slide the face ofthe movable friction-member across' the periphery of its lcomplementary friction-member v'to automatically eifectay positive and proportional change in the speed of the said reel as' the said tension is changed.

2. In' a mechanism of the class described, the. combination with a revo-luble reel'mounted for bodily movement; of a pair of coaeting rotary friction-members, one of which is in the 'form of a friction-disk and the other in the-form of a friction-roller engaged therewith, the said friction-disk being operativelyv v associated with the said reel and bodily movable therewith acrossy the periphery of its complementaryk friction-roller vto effect a speed-changing relationship therebetween in direct response to a change in the tension of the material being handled by said reel, the said friction-rollerbeing adapted for connection toa source of power fo-r being driven at a substantially constant speed; the parts being organized and related with respect to each other in such manner as to move the said reel and simultaneously slide the face of the said v movable'friction-disk across the periphery of its complementary friction-roller to automatically effect a positive and proportional change in the speed of the said reel as the said tension is changed.

3.-' In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a revoluble reel mounted for bodily movement; of a pair of eoacting rotary friction-members, one of which is in the form of" a friction-disk and the other in the'form of 'a friction-roller engaged therewith, the said friction-'disk being operatively associated with the said reel and bodily movablegthere-with across the periphery .of kits complementary friction-roller," to effect a speed-changing relationship therebetween in direct response `to a change in the tension of the material being handled by said reel, the said friction-roller being adapted for connection to a. source of power'for being driven at a substantially constant speed; and yieldingmeans normally exerting an effect to shift the said movable friction-disk together with the said reelinadirection in opposition to the pull of the said material ;'the parts being organized Vvand `related with respect to each other in 'such manner as to move the saidv reel and simultaneously slide the face of the saidmovable friction-disk 'across' the periphery of its complementary friction-roller to automatically eifect-Va positive-and proportional change in the speed of the said reel as vthe said tension changed; .I s Y Y Y 4. .In afmechanismrof the class described, the combination with a revoluble reel mounted for bodily movement; of a friction-disk andv a friction-roller engaged therewith, the

said friction-disk being operatively associ-` ated With the said reel and-bodily movable therewith, across the periphery of the said friction-roller to effe-ct a speed-changing relationship therebetween in direct response to a change in the tension of the material being handled by the said reel, the said frictionroller being adapted for connection to a source of power for being driven at a substantially constant speed; the parts being organized and related With respect to each other in such manner as to move the said reel'and simultaneously slide the face of the .said friction-disk across the periphery of the said friction-roller to automatically effect a positive and proportional change in the speed of the said reel as the said tension is changed.

5. In a device of the class described, 'the combination with a shiftable reel-carrying frame; of a revoluble reel` carried by the said frame and shiftable therewith; a frictiondisk also carried by the said reel-carrying frame with which it is inlovable in direct response to a change in the tension of the material being handled by the said reel and op* eratively associated with the said reel' for controlling the rotary movement thereof; and a friction-roller contacting with the said friction-disk for sliding engagement with the face thereof and adapted for connection to a source of power for being driven at a substantially constant speed and having its axis extending substantially at a right angle to theV axis of the said friction-disk; and yieldingmeans normally exerting an effort to shift the said friction-disk With respect to the said friction-roller in a direction required to increasev the speed of the said reel; the parts being organized and related With respect to each other in such manner as to simultaneously shift the frame, reel and friction-disk with respect to the said friction-roller to automati cally effect a positive and proportional reduction in the speed of the said reel When the said tension is increased and to automatically effect a similar increase in the speed thereof When the said tension is decreased.

6. In a device of the class described, the combinationv with a pivotal reel-carrying frame; of a. revolublel reel carried by the said pivotal frame and shiftable therewith; a friction-disk also carried by the said pivotal reel-carrying frame With Which it is movable in direct response to a change inthe tension of the material being handled by the said reel and operatively associated with the said reel for controlling the rotary movement thereof; and a friction-roller contacting With the said friction-disk for sliding engagement with the face thereof and adaptedfor connection to a source of power for being driven at a substan- Y tially constant speed' and having its axis eX- tending substantially at a right angle. to the axis of the said friction-disk; the parts'being organized and related With respect to each fect a similar increase in the speed thereof Y when the said tension is decreased.

7 In a device ofthe class described, the combination, With a pivotal Vreel-carrying frame; of a revoluble reel carried by the said pivotal frame and shiftable therewith; a friction-disk also carried by the said pivotal reel-V carrying frame With Which it is movable in response to a change in the tension of the material being handled by the said reel and operatively associated With the said reel for controlling the rotary movement thereof; and a friction-roller contacting With the said friction-disk for sliding engagement with the face thereof and adapted for connection to a source of power and having its axis extending substantially at a right angle to the axis of the said friction-disk; and yielding-means normally exerting an effort to shift the said friction-disk With respect to the said friction-roller in a direction required to increase the speed of the said reel; the parts being organized and related Wit-h respect to each other in such manner as to simultaneously shiftv the frame, reel and friction-disk With respect to the said friction-roller to automatically effe'ct a positive and proportional reduction in the speed` of the said reel When the said'tension is increased and to automatically effect a similar increase in the speed thereof when the said tension isdecreased.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

' JOHN VACHER. 

